Door bolt

ABSTRACT

A door bolt device in which first and second plates connected to a door jamb and door end have non-horizontal slots which align when the door is closed. A key member located at the inside of the premises has a thickness greater than any one of the plates and has projections which are complementary with and substantially conform in shape to the slots for insertion therein to complete the lock.

United States Patent [191 Westcott [451 Sept. 25, 1973 DOOR BOLT [76] Inventor: Kenneth C. Westcott, 3253 N.

Clifton St., Chicago, 111.

[22] Filed: Sept. 1, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 176,949

[52] US. Cl 292/1, 292/162, 292/292, 292/346 [51] Int. Cl. EOSc 19/18, E05c 1/04 [58] Field of Search 292/1, 162, 302, 7 292/292, 264, 346, 74

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,564,715 12/1925 Russell", 292/302 X 15,500 8/1856 Yale 292/74 2,127,891 8/1938 Starling. 292/346 3,401,969 9/1968 Neel 292/264 Primary Examiner-Richard E. Moore Attorney-Lettvin & Gerstman [57] ABSTRACT A door bolt device in which first and second plates connected to a door jamb and door end have nonhorizontal slots which align when the door is closed. A key member located at the inside of the premises has a thickness greater than any one of the plates and has projections which are complementary with and substantially conform in shape to the slots for insertion therein to complete the lock.

8 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures noon BOLT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an improved door bolt device for homes, apartments and the like.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a door bolt device which is simple and economical to manufacture.

It is further object of the present invention to provide a door bolt device which can easily be connected to conventional doors and door jambs and is simple to use.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a door bolt device which resists tampering and provides a great amount of security.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a door bolt device which can be formed of metal stampings and does not require extremely close tolerances.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawmg.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a door bolt device which includes a first plate for connection to the inside of a door jamb so that it lies in a plane perpendicular to the walls to which the jam is attached. A second plate is provided for connection to the free end of the cooperating door at the horizontal level of the first plate connection to the jamb, in order to align the second plate with the first plate. Means are provided for connecting the first and second plates to the jamb and door end, respectively.

A key member is provided for location at the inside of the premises for cooperating with the first and second plates to provide a locking arrangement. The first and second plates have a similar key-receiving configuration and form with the key a projection-receiving slot arrangement whereby one of the key and plates forms the projection and the other of the key and plates forms the projection-receiving slot. I The projection and slot are angular so that upon connection of the plates to the respective jamb and door, the projection and the slot will be non-horizontal. The projection is complementary with and substantially conforms in shapeto the slot for simple entry and removal therefrom.

A more detailed explanation of the invention is provided in the following description and claims, and is illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective, exploded view of a door bolt device in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a doorway utilizing a door jamb constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of a door jamb device in accordance with the principles of the present invention connected to a door and jamb; and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional elevation taken along the line 44 of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT The door bolt device comprises a first plate 10 defining a pair of non-horizontal rectilinear slots l2, 14,

which open to the end 16 of plate 10. A second plate I 18, which is identical to first plate 10, comprises nonhorizontal rectilinear slots 20, 22 which open to end 24 of plate 18. Preferably plates 10 and 18 are formed of steel stampings and define apertures 26 for suitable connection to a door jamb and door, as is explained below.

A bolster plate 30 is provided, having a planar coupling portion 32 and a perpendicularly extending flange 34, and defining a number of apertures 36 for permitting connection of bolster plate 30 to a door jamb. Flange 34 is greater in width than the thickness of first plate 10.

A key member 40 is provided and is preferably formed of a steel stamping being greater in thickness than the thickness of either plate 10 or plate 18. Key member 40 carries a pair of non-horizontal extending projections 42, 44, which are complementary with and substantially conforming in shape to slots 12, 14, 20 and 22. In this manner, when plates 10 and 18 are aligned so that slot 12 is aligned with slot 20 and slot 14 is aligned with slot 22, projection 42 will enter the opening comprising slots 12 and 20, while projection 44 will enter the opening comprising slots 14 and 22.

A chain 46 couples key member 40 to hanger 48 and is connected to key member 40 and hanger member 48 by means of U-shaped connectors 50 which pivot about pins 52. Hanger member 48 is formed of a steel stamping and defines apertures 54 for enabling fastening of member 48 to a wall on the inside of the premises, adjacent to the door jamb to which plate 10 is connected. Hanger member 48 has a hook 56 upon which key member 40 can be hung during its non-use.

In utilizing the door bolt device of the present invention, bolster plate 30 and first plate 10 are aligned and are fastened to a door jamb 60 so that the coupling portion 32 and first plate 10 liein a plane perpendicular to the walls to which jamb 60 is attached. As shown most clearly in FIG. 3, flange 34 extends perpendicular to the firstplate at the end thereof toward the outside of the premises.

Second plate 18 is fastened to the free end 62 of door 64 and is placed at a horizontal level so that when the door 64 is closed, plates 10 and 18 will be aligned and have the ability to receive projections 42 and 44of key member 40. Because the width of flange 34 is greater than the thickness of first plate 10, it can be seen from FIG. 3 in particular that a person trying to tamper with the bolt device from the outside of the premises will not be able to insert a so as to engage the key member when the key member is in place. Once key member 40 is in place in the non-horizontal slots defined by the plates, any force on the door tending to open the door will only tend to strengthen the relationship between key member 40 and plates 10 and 18. Although the projections and slots could be at various angles, an angle of forty degrees with respect to the horizontal has been found satisfactory.

Although an illustrative embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it is to be understood that various modifications and substitutions may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the novel spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, instead of each plate utilizing a pair of slots and the key member having a pair of projections, the plates may carry projections with the key member having projection-receiving slots. Further, the number of projections or slots may be decreased or increased, as desired.

What is claimed is:

1. Door bolt device which comprises: a first plate for connection to the inside of a door jamb so that it lies in a plane perpendicular to the walls to which said jamb is attached; a second plate for connection to the free end of a cooperating door at the horizontal level of said first plate connection to said jamb to align said second plate with said first plate; means for connecting said first and second plates to said jamb and door end, respectively; a key member for location at the inside of the premises for cooperating with said first and second plates to provide a locking arrangement, said first and second plates having at their edges a similar keyreceiving configuration and forming with said key a projection and projection-receiving slot arrangement whereby one of said key and plates forms said projection and the other of said key and plates forms said projection-receiving slot, said projection being complementary with and substantially conforming in shape to said slot for simple entry and removal therefrom.

2. Door bolt device as described in claim 1, wherein each of said plates defines a slot which opens at the end of the plate and which aligns with the slot defined by the other plate when said plates are connected to said respective jamb and door to form said projectionreceiving slot, and said key comprising a handle member with said projection extending therefrom, said projection having a thickness that is greater than the thickness of the wall defining any of said slots which form said projection-receiving slot.

3. Door bolt device as described in claim 1, including a bolster plate for connection to said jamb, said bolster plate comprising a flange adapted to extend perpendicular to said first plate at the end of said first plate toward the outside of the premises, to prevent insertion of a tool into any spacing between said plates from the outside, said flange having a width that is greater than the thickness of said first plate.

4. Door bolt device as described in claim 1, wherein said plates and said key member are formed of steel stampings.

5. Door bolt device as described in claim 2, wherein aeach of said plates defines a plurality of slots which are located so as to be non-horizontal when connected to said respective jamb and door, and said key having a plurality of projections extending from said handle member, said projections being adapted for complementary engagement with said slots.

6. Door bolt device as described in claim 3, wherein said bolster plate includes a planar coupling portion extending perpendicular to said flange and being adapted for interposition between said first plate and said jamb.

7. Door bolt device as described in claim 1 wherein said projection and slot are at an acute angle so that upon connection of said plates to said respective jamb and door said projection and said slot will be nonhorizontal.

8. Door bolt device which comprises: a first plate formed of a metal stamping for connection to the inside of a door jamb so that it lies in a plane perpendicular to the walls to which said jamb is attached; a second plate formed of a metal stamping for connection to the free end of a cooperating door at the horizontal level of said first plate connection to said jamb to align said second plate with said first plate; means for connecting said first and second plates to said jamb and door, respectively; each of said first and second plates defining a plurality of slots which open at the end of the plate and which align with the slots defined by the other plate when said plates are connected to said respective jamb and door, said slots being angular so that upon connection of said plates to said respective jamb and door said slots will be non-horizontal; a key member formed of a metal stamping for location at the inside of the premises for cooperating with said first and second plates to provide a locking arrangement, said key member comprising a handle with a plurality of angular projections extending therefrom, said projections each having a thickness that is greater than the thickness of the walls defining said slots, said projections being adapted for complementary engagement with said slots; and a bolster plate formed of a metal stamping, said bolster plate comprising a planar coupling portion adapted for interposition between said first plate and said jamb, a flange extending perpendicular to said coupling portion and adapted to extend perpendicular to said coupling portion and adapted to extend perpendicular to said first plate at the end thereof toward the outside of the premises, to prevent insertion of a tool into any spacing between the plates from the outside, said flange having a width that is greater than said first plate. 

1. Door bolt device which comprises: a first plate for connection to the inside of a door jamb so that it lies in a plane perpendicular to the walls to which said jamb is attached; a second plate for connection to the free end of a cooperating door at the horizontal level of said first plate connection to said jamb to align said second plate with said first plate; means for connecting said first and second plates to said jamb and door end, respectively; a key member for location at the inside of the premises for cooperatinG with said first and second plates to provide a locking arrangement, said first and second plates having at their edges a similar key-receiving configuration and forming with said key a projection and projection-receiving slot arrangement whereby one of said key and plates forms said projection and the other of said key and plates forms said projection-receiving slot, said projection being complementary with and substantially conforming in shape to said slot for simple entry and removal therefrom.
 2. Door bolt device as described in claim 1, wherein each of said plates defines a slot which opens at the end of the plate and which aligns with the slot defined by the other plate when said plates are connected to said respective jamb and door to form said projection-receiving slot, and said key comprising a handle member with said projection extending therefrom, said projection having a thickness that is greater than the thickness of the wall defining any of said slots which form said projection-receiving slot.
 3. Door bolt device as described in claim 1, including a bolster plate for connection to said jamb, said bolster plate comprising a flange adapted to extend perpendicular to said first plate at the end of said first plate toward the outside of the premises, to prevent insertion of a tool into any spacing between said plates from the outside, said flange having a width that is greater than the thickness of said first plate.
 4. Door bolt device as described in claim 1, wherein said plates and said key member are formed of steel stampings.
 5. Door bolt device as described in claim 2, wherein aeach of said plates defines a plurality of slots which are located so as to be non-horizontal when connected to said respective jamb and door, and said key having a plurality of projections extending from said handle member, said projections being adapted for complementary engagement with said slots.
 6. Door bolt device as described in claim 3, wherein said bolster plate includes a planar coupling portion extending perpendicular to said flange and being adapted for interposition between said first plate and said jamb.
 7. Door bolt device as described in claim 1 wherein said projection and slot are at an acute angle so that upon connection of said plates to said respective jamb and door said projection and said slot will be non-horizontal.
 8. Door bolt device which comprises: a first plate formed of a metal stamping for connection to the inside of a door jamb so that it lies in a plane perpendicular to the walls to which said jamb is attached; a second plate formed of a metal stamping for connection to the free end of a cooperating door at the horizontal level of said first plate connection to said jamb to align said second plate with said first plate; means for connecting said first and second plates to said jamb and door, respectively; each of said first and second plates defining a plurality of slots which open at the end of the plate and which align with the slots defined by the other plate when said plates are connected to said respective jamb and door, said slots being angular so that upon connection of said plates to said respective jamb and door said slots will be non-horizontal; a key member formed of a metal stamping for location at the inside of the premises for cooperating with said first and second plates to provide a locking arrangement, said key member comprising a handle with a plurality of angular projections extending therefrom, said projections each having a thickness that is greater than the thickness of the walls defining said slots, said projections being adapted for complementary engagement with said slots; and a bolster plate formed of a metal stamping, said bolster plate comprising a planar coupling portion adapted for interposition between said first plate and said jamb, a flange extending perpendicular to said coupling portion and adapted to extend perpendicular to said coupling portion and adapted to extend perpendicular to said first plate at the end thereof toward the outside of the premises, to prevent insertion of a tool into any spacing between the plates from the outside, said flange having a width that is greater than said first plate. 